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Color Vision

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.

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At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 18, 2026

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers

Enabling High Grayscale Resolution Displays and Accurate Response Time Measurements on Conventional Computers

Published on: February 29, 2012

Quantification of color vision using a tablet display.

Alicia Chacon¹, Jeff Rabin, Dennis Yu

¹University of the Incarnate Word Rosenberg School of Optometry, San Antonio, TX, USA.

Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance

|January 8, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

A tablet-based Cone Contrast Test (CCT) accurately diagnoses color vision deficiency (CVD) type and severity. This portable tool is ideal for aviation, space, and sports medicine settings.

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Area of Science:

Ophthalmology
Human Factors Engineering
Vision Science

Background:

Accurate color vision is critical for aviation and space operations, where nonredundant color coding conveys vital information.
Existing color vision tests often fail to diagnose the specific type or severity of color vision deficiency (CVD), hindering performance assessments.
The computer-based Cone Contrast Test (CCT) quantifies CVD type and severity, but a more portable version is needed for diverse operational environments.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of conducting the Cone Contrast Test (CCT) on a tablet display.
To determine if a tablet-based CCT can reliably diagnose color vision deficiency (CVD) in various settings.

Main Methods:

The Cone Contrast Test (CCT) was administered to 16 color vision normals (CVN) and 16 individuals with CVD using both a standard netbook and a calibrated Windows 8 tablet.
The CCT assesses red (R), green (G), and blue (B) cone sensitivity by determining the lowest visible cone contrast.
Touch-screen input was utilized on the tablet for response collection.

Main Results:

The tablet-based CCT demonstrated 100% specificity in confirming color vision normals (CVN) and 100% sensitivity in detecting color vision deficiency (CVD).
No significant differences in scores were observed between the netbook and tablet displays for CVNs.
Individuals with green (G) cone CVD showed slightly lower G cone CCT scores on the tablet display.

Conclusions:

A tablet display is a viable platform for diagnosing color vision deficiency (CVD) with accuracy comparable to a netbook.
The portability, ease of use, and full computing capabilities of tablets make them suitable for diverse applications.
This technology can be applied in aviation, space exploration, military deployments, accident/rescue scenarios, and sports vision assessments.